Finding microproteins to treat obesity and metabolic disorders
Salk Institute researchers used CRISPR screening to identify microproteins that regulate fat cell growth and lipid accumulation, revealing new therapeutic targets for obesity and metabolic disorders. The validated microprotein Adipocyte-smORF-1183 may advance non-GLP-1 treatment options.
Low Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D Is Associated with Severe Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Individuals with Overweight/obesity: A Cross-sectional Study
August 8, 2025 / Vitamin D / MASLD risk / Liver fat / Obesity link / Steatotic disease
Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are significantly associated with increased severity of liver fat and subcutaneous adipose tissue in individuals with overweight/obesity, suggesting a potential protective role of vitamin D against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Administration of heat killed Fructobacillus fructosus OS-1010 attenuates metabolic disease induced by high fat diet in mice
August 9, 2025 / Postbiotic / NAFLD treatment / Obesity therapy / Muscle weakness / Mitochondrial health
Heat-killed Fructobacillus fructosus OS-1010 significantly reduced obesity, improved liver enzymes and lipid profiles, and enhanced mitochondrial function in mice on a high-fat diet, suggesting its potential as a postbiotic treatment for NAFLD and sarcopenic obesity.
Radella Pharmaceuticals Release New Obesity Trial Data Showing Significant Weight Loss and Expansive Cardiometabolic Benefits
Aug 8, 2025 / Obesity drug / Cardiometabolic health / MD-18 peptide / Leptin signaling / Weight loss therapy
Radella’s MD-18 achieved 2.7% weight loss in 28 days, with improved insulin sensitivity, cholesterol, and liver enzymes, while preserving lean muscle. This first-in-class peptide targets PTP1B to restore leptin signaling, showing promise for obesity and cardiometabolic disease treatment.
Could This Tiny Molecule Be Better Than Ozempic and Wegovy for Obesity?
August 11, 2024 / Obesity treatment / Microprotein therapy / CRISPR screening / Fat metabolism / GLP-1 alternative
Salk Institute researchers identified a microprotein that regulates fat cell growth, offering a potential alternative to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Using CRISPR, the study highlights microproteins as novel therapeutic targets for obesity and metabolic diseases.
Lilly’s Oral GLP-1 Pill Orforglipron Cuts Up to 27.3 lbs in Phase 3 Trial
August 7, 2025 / Obesity treatment / Orforglipron pill / GLP-1 weight loss / Cardiometabolic health / Eli Lilly trial
Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 drug orforglipron achieved up to 27.3 lbs of weight loss in a Phase 3 trial, showing strong efficacy and cardiometabolic benefits, offering a convenient, non-injectable option for obesity management with a consistent safety profile.
Nxera unveils proprietary pipeline targeting obesity and metabolic disorders
August 6, 2025 / Obesity therapy / Microprotein discovery / CRISPR screening / Metabolic disorders / Adipocyte biology
Salk Institute scientists used CRISPR to identify novel microproteins that regulate fat cell growth and lipid accumulation, revealing a promising new class of therapeutic targets for obesity and metabolic disorders beyond current GLP-1 treatments.
Discovering Microproteins as Novel Therapies for Obesity and Metabolic Disorders
August 7, 2025 / MASLD guidelines / Liver disease / Metabolic dysfunction / Non-invasive screening / Obesity treatment
New European guidelines reclassify NAFLD as MASLD, emphasizing metabolic dysfunction and introducing subtypes like MetALD. The recommendations prioritize non-invasive diagnostics, cardiometabolic risk management, and lifestyle interventions, while redefining clinical strategies for screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Eating earlier linked to long-term weight-loss success
August 5, 2025 / Obesity prevention / Meal timing / Circadian rhythm / Genetic risk / Weight loss
Early meal timing may mitigate long-term weight gain in individuals with high genetic obesity risk. A 12-year study showed that earlier eating correlates with lower BMI, supporting meal timing as a modifiable factor in obesity interventions.
Updated multidisciplinary European guidelines redefine MASLD diagnosis and treatment
August 7, 2024 / Microproteins / Obesity therapy / CRISPR screening / Fat cell biology / Metabolic disorders
Salk Institute researchers identified microproteins that regulate fat cell growth and lipid storage using CRISPR screening. These findings open new therapeutic avenues for treating obesity and metabolic disorders beyond current GLP-1-based approaches.
Hidden receptors in fat cells reveal new sensing mechanism for metabolism
August 5, 2025 / FFA4 receptors / Fat metabolism / Intracrine signaling / Obesity treatment / Metabolic diseases
University of Birmingham researchers discovered that fat cells use internal FFA4 receptors to self-regulate fat breakdown via a novel intracrine signaling mechanism—potentially revolutionizing therapeutic strategies for obesity, diabetes, and related metabolic disorders.
Fat Cells Use Internal Sensors To Regulate Fat Breakdown
August 6, 2025 / FFA4 receptor / Intracrine signaling / Fat metabolism / Obesity therapy / Metabolic disease
University of Birmingham scientists discovered that internal FFA4 receptors in fat cells act as built-in sensors to regulate fat breakdown through a novel intracrine mechanism, offering new therapeutic targets for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic diseases.
Nxera Launches Broad Proprietary Pipeline Targeting Obesity and Chronic Weight Management
August 5, 2025 / GLP-1 agonist / Chronic obesity / GPCR therapeutics / Metabolic disorders / Oral weight loss
Nxera Pharma has launched a proprietary pipeline targeting obesity and metabolic disorders, led by an oral GLP-1 agonist and six GPCR-based programs. The therapies aim to improve long-term weight management, cardiometabolic outcomes, and muscle preservation across diverse patient populations.
Clearmind announces patent application for metabolic syndrome treatment
August 7, 2025 / Metabolic syndrome / Obesity treatment / Combination therapy / Neuroplastogen drugs / MEAI PEA
Clearmind Medicine filed a patent for a novel combination therapy using MEAI and PEA to target metabolic syndrome and obesity. This approach may address key cardiometabolic risk factors through neuroplastogen and N-acylethanolamine synergy in early-stage development.
Researchers Identify Microproteins as Potential Tools for Addressing Obesity Affecting Over One Billion Worldwide
August 8, 2025 / Obesity / Microproteins / Metabolic disorders / Diabetes treatment / Cardiovascular health
Researchers highlight microproteins as promising regulators of metabolic processes linked to obesity and related diseases. These small, underexplored proteins may offer novel therapeutic targets for treating type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other obesity-associated conditions.
Drug used to treat diabetes could help prevent dementia
August 11, 2025 / Metformin / Dementia prevention / Obesity treatment / Diabetes drug / Brain health
A large Taiwanese study found that metformin use is linked to reduced risks of dementia and mortality in adults with overweight and obesity, suggesting potential neuroprotective effects beyond diabetes treatment.
3 myths about metabolism could be holding you back
August 9, 2025 / Metabolism myths / Obesity science / Weight loss research / Aging metabolism / Metabolic rate
Dr. Kevin Hall dispels myths linking metabolism directly to obesity and weight loss, highlighting that metabolism is often misunderstood. His research emphasizes that larger bodies typically have higher, not slower, metabolic rates and that metabolism remains stable through most of adulthood.
Sagimet Biosciences to Participate in the Canaccord Genuity 45th Annual Growth Conference
August 5, 2025 / Sagimet Biosciences / Metabolic diseases / Fibrotic pathways / Biopharma conference / Liver therapeutics
Sagimet Biosciences will discuss its pipeline of metabolic and antifibrotic therapeutics during a fireside chat at the Canaccord Genuity 45th Annual Growth Conference on August 13, 2025, highlighting its clinical-stage efforts to address liver and metabolic diseases.
Diseases caused by fatty liver: A guide to health risks and complications
August 5, 2025 / Fatty liver / MASLD risks / Metabolic disease / Liver cancer / Type 2 diabetes
Fatty liver disease, including MASLD and MASH, can progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer and is linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and hormone-related disorders—highlighting its broad systemic health impact beyond the liver.
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals Announces Grants of Inducement Awards under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)
August 8, 2025 / Madrigal / MASH treatment / Rezdiffra / Liver fibrosis / THR-beta agonist
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals granted equity awards to new employees, supporting its growth in advancing Rezdiffra—currently the only FDA-approved treatment for MASH with fibrosis. The company continues its Phase 3 trial targeting compensated MASH cirrhosis.